Game-counter and the like.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

H. G. HOSB. GAME COUNTER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1907.

its edge three teeth 7, and numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, seen at HENRY G. HOSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAlIE-COUNTER AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 11, 1907. Serial N 0. 356,844.

Patented March 17, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. HosE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, in the cityand State of New Yor have invented certa'in new and useful Im rovements in Game-Counters and the Li e, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of devices adapted to be carried in the hand of the um ire, at a game of base-ball, for exam le, or registering balls and strikes; an one of the features of the invention resides in the means for operating the two counting wheels 'or disks independently, combined with means for setting both wheels instantly back to zero by pressure on a button.

Another important feature of the invention is the means whereby the umpire may note the number of balls or strikes registered either by sight or by touch.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention- Figure. 1 is a rear view of the mechanism of the instrument, the inclosing casing being in section' Fig. 2 is a front instrument, with a part of the front-plate of the casingbroken away to disclose the interior. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially at line x in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a pers ective view of the instrument on a relative y small scale. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the pawl and ratchet device. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of the let-ofi mechanism; the former being a front elevation and the latter a plan.

Referring primarily to the first four figures of the drawn C designatesjas a whole, the casing or box to contain the operative mechanism of the instrument. This casing may be of metal, and of such size and shape as to be conveniently gras ed in the hand.

1 is the front-plate of t e casing; 2, the back-plate thereof which may be removable; and 3 the narrow side-wall, which may be integral with the front-plate, or not, as preferred.

Within the casin are rotatively mounted, on studs 4, two disks 5 and 6, the former (called herein the strike disk) having on on its face the y in Fig. 2; and the latter (called herein the ball disk) havin on its edge four teeth 8, and on its face t e'numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, seen at z in elevation of the Fig. 2. In the front plate of the casing are two sight apertures a and b, at which the numerals on the respective disks 5 and 6 become visible, successively, as the disks are rotated step b step; and in the side-wall 3 are slots (1 an e, through which the respective teeth 7 and 8 protrude, successively, as the respective disks 5 and 6, bearing said teeth, are rotated step by step.

In order to rotate the disks 5 and 6 independently and each, step by step, as reuired, the respective disks have fixed to them, concentrlcally, ratchet wheels 9 and 10 (Fig 1); and with the teeth on these respective wheels engage, for rotating the latter step by step, pawls 11 and 12, pivotally secured, respectively, to the lower ends of upright, slidable stems 13 and 14. As these pawl devices are alike, it will sufiice to say that in each the stem is provided with a button 15 at its upper or outer end; that it is guided in the casmg and in a bracket 16, and has a retracting spring 17.-' The pawl is flattened at its upper end where it is pivotally attached to the stem, and it has a loose washer 18, and a spring 19, to hold it alined yieldingly with the sliding stem. 'This last described construction is required to enable the pawl to swing laterally in operating the ratchet Wheel, as seen in Flg. 5.

It will be convenient to ex lain the operation as far as described. en the umpire wishes to register a strike he resses on the button 15 connected operative y with the strike disk 5, and the pawl 11 advances the disk one tooth of the ratchet-wheel 9, where it is held by means to be described. The numeral 1 will now appear at the sight aperture a, and one tooth 7 will protrude at the slot d, where it may be felt by the finger of the umpire. A second pressure on the same button 15 causes the numeral 2 to appear at the sight-aperture a, and two teeth 7 may be felt at the slot d. For balls", the other button 15 is ressed, and the number of balls registere in the same manner.

It remains to be explained how both of the disks 5 and 6 may be instantly set back to button. At the res ective axia about which the dis s 5 and 6, and their ratchet-wheels 9 and 10 turn, are disposed, respectively, volute springs 20 and 21, so disposed as to be wound u or put under tension, when the ratchet-wheels are turned by 105 zero, simultaneously, by simply ressing studs 4 I ratchet-wheel 10. There is a their respective pawls 11 and 12; and mounted to rock, respectively, on studs 22 in the casing, are two like lever-pawls 23 and 24, the former being a stop-pawl for the ratchetwheel 9 and the latter a sto -pawl for the utton or head 25 on the outer end of an upright-slidable stem 26, guided in the casing and in a bracket 27, and on this stem is a retracting s ring 28. The heels or inner arms of the paw s 23 and 24 are rounded and enga e, at opposite sides of the stem 26, a recess Iormed in the same (at w in Fi 1), whereb when the stem-is depressed the shoulder ormed on the stem by said recess will act to simultaneously rock the le ver-pawls and disengage their operative ends from the teeth of the two ratchet wheels, and thus permit the volute springs thereof to instantly rotate the disks 5 and 6 back to zero. When the disks are thus rotated back they strike limiting stops; and in the present instance the studs 22 are utilized as sun sto s. It may be explained that in order to ho d the stopawls in yielding engagerent with the teet of their respective ratchet-wheels, there is a spring 29 on a proiongation of the stem 26, which eifects this object.

When the disks 5 and 6 are moved forward step by step, by means of the pawls 11 and 12, this forward movement is limited in extent by the en agement of the first tooth on the disk with t e end of the slot in which the teeth. play. Any forms of limiting stops may, 'iowever, be used.

The let-off device last described is operated by means of a button or head 25 on the top 01 upper edge of the casing, and disposed betw en the two buttons 15. This arrangement is not, however, essential.

Figs. 6 and 7 show how the operating head or be tton-whatever its form may be-can ced on the face-of the casing, and the let-o; be effected by displacing said button or p ;ce laterally. I In these figures, the rounr ed heels or inner arms of the pawls 23 and E engage a connecting piece to on the shor. arm 30 of an elbow-lever fulcrumed in tl1- casing at v. The longer arm, 31, of this liver is coupled at its upper end to a horizantally disposed slidable rod 26 provideo with a retracting spring 28, and to this "od is attached a thumb piece 25 whicl is exterior to the casing and connected with a: aid rod through a slot in the face-plate of thr casing.

Ob 'iously the present invention is not restrict l. to the precise construction of the device s herein shown. The invention includ' in its scope one of the indicating disks provided with the two indicating means, namely, the numerals at. the sight-aperture, and t me teeth protruding from the slot in the casin For the game of base-ball the stri" will have but three teeth and three si nificant numerals as indicating devices, w 1c the ball disk will have four of each.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- Y 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casin provided with openings, of a revoluble wheefi or disk within said casing; means for imparting a step-bystep motion to said wheel or disk; means for moving said wheel or disk back to its initial position; means for holding said wheel or disk against such backward rotation, and means for disengaging said last mentioned holding means; said wheel or disk having thereon devicesadapted to indicate to the sight and also to the touch the number of steps which said wheel or disk has been moved.

2. An instrument for purposes such as those specified, having a casing IOVIdBd with a sight-aperture and a slot, a lsk rotatively mounted in said casing, said disk having on it numerals adapted to appear successively at said sight-aperture and an equal number of teeth which are ada ted to protrude successively at said slot, w en the disk is rotated, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for advancing said disk ste by step, a spring for rotating said disk bac to zero, a stoppawl for holding the disk against back rotation, and means for disengaging said stoppawl.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with o enings, of a plurality of revoluble wheels or disks within said casing; means for imparting a step-by-step motion to each of said wheels or disks separately; means for moving said wheels or disks back to their initial positions; means for holding said wheels or disks against such backward rotation; and means for disengaging said last mentioned holding means; each of said wheels or disks having thereon devices adapted to indicate to the sight and also to the touch the number of steps which said wheel or disk has been move 4. An instrument for the purpose specified, having an inclosing casing a plurality of disks rotatively mounted therein and pro vided with means for indicating the extent of their ste by step rotation, said means consisting o numerals adapted to appear successively at said sight aperture and an equal number of teeth which are adapted to protrude successively at said slot, when the disks are rotated, pawl and ratchet mechanism for imparting to each disk, independently of the other, a forward step by step rotation, s rings for rotating the respective disks bac to zero, s ring stop-pawls which hold the res ective d isks against back rotation, a slidab e stem which projects out of the casing and which is operatively connected with both of said stop-pawls for disengaging fied, having a casing provided with sight apertures a and b, and slots d and e, indicator disks 5 and 6 rotatively mounted in the casing, said disks being provided on their faces with indicating numerals adapted to be brought opposite to the respective sight-apertures successively by intermittent forward rotation of said disks, and provided on their respective edges with indicator teeth adapted to be protrudedsuccessively at the resfpectiveslots in the casing by intermittent orward rotation. of the disks, volute springs which tend to rotate the respective disks backward, pawl and ratchet-wheel fixed toeach ratchet mechanisms for imparting to the respective disks a step by step forward rotation, each of said mechanisms com rising a slidable stem which projects out o the casing, a retracting spring, for said stem, a spring pawl pivotally attached to the inner end of the stem, and a ratchet-wheel fixed to the indicator disk, the teeth of which are in position to be enga' ed by said pawl when the said stem is pus ed in, stop-pawls to prevent back rotation of the res ective ratchet wheels, and means, operatab e from outside of the casing for releasing both of said stop-pawls simu taneously.

6. An mstrument for the purpose specified,'having a casing, a lurality of indicator dISkS 5 and 6 rotatab y mounted therein, said disks being provided with numerals adaptedto a pear successively at said sight a erture an an equal number of teeth w 'ch are adapted to protrude successively at said slot, when the disk is rotated, a indicator disk, a spring for rotating each disk back to zero, means for rotating each disk forward intermittently, lever skip-pawls 23 and 24, engaging the teeth 0 the respective ratchet wheels, 9. slidable stem 26, which projects out of the casing and is provided at 1ts outer oted pawl 12 and springs 17 .21 for moving said wheel or end with a button or thumb-piece 25, a retracting spring 28 for said stem which latter has a recess w engaged by arms on the lever stop-pawls, and a spring 29 under the said arms of the pawls.

7. In a device of the character described, adapted to be held within and operated by one hand, the combination with a casing provided with an opening I); of a revoluble wheel or disk 6; means for imparting a stepby-step motion to said wheel or' disk, comprising a push rod 14 provided with a pivand 19; a spring disk back to its initial position; means for holding said wheel or disk against such backwar tion, comprising a pawl 24 and a spring 29; a push rod 26 for disengaging said paw 24, and a spring 28 for resisting the operation of the push rod 26; said wheel or disk 6 being provided with numerals .2 adapted to appear successively at said sight aperture.

8. In a device of the character described, adapted to be held within and o erated by one hand, the combination wit a casing provided with openings a b; of revoluble wheels or disks 5, 6; means for imparting a step-by-step motion to said wheels or disks rota-- comprising push rods 13, 14, provided with pivoted pawls 11, 12 and springs 20, 21, for moving disks back to their initial ositions; means forholding said wheels or ks against an h backward rotation, com rising pawls, 2 24, and a spring 29, a push rod 26 for disengaging said pawls 23, 24, and a spring 28 for resisting'the operation of the push rod 26; said wheels or disks 5, 6, bemg provided with numerals y z, adapted to appear successively at said sight apertures.

springs 17 19 said wheels or In witness whereof I have hereunto signedmy name this 7th day of February 1907, in the presence-of two subscribing witnesses. HENRY G. HOSE. Witnesses:

FRANS W. WIMAN, WILLIAM J. FIRTH. 

